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J. H. FITZPATRICK.

E OF NINE. APPuc FILED FEB. 15, 1921.

Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

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UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAME OF NINE.

Application filed February 15, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. FITZPATRICK, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Peekskill, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Game of Nine, of which the following is a specification. f

This invention relates to pastime games, and has for its ob'ect a fireside game simulating base ball. he object is attained by the means set forth in this specification and the accompanying drawings, in both of which like letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

' 1 is a plan of the game board. Fig. 2

F1 is a longitudinal section through line B of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are details relating to the spring actuated ball hat.

The game board consists of a rectangular base A upon which is secured a flanged form of the figure 9, the flange comprising the limb d, the loop a b; and the limb and loop connecting part c. The loop is not joined to the part c, an opening at Z being left for the free passage of the balls, in playing the game, to the field e.

Rows of balls t t' are shown at the sides of the board, the two sets of nine balls each having different colors, the row It may be red, the row it may be blue, the colors not beilnlg material. I d b l b n e ame is aye y acing a a at the begi nning 0F the limb d: as at 8. A ball club 1 is attached to a spring, so that when drawn back from the position shown, then released, tliga club will strike the ball and drive it ag "nst the flange into the field e. The ball mag be struck hard enough to cause it to enter arrid traverse the path around the circle a 6 several times, or a blow may be so light as to cause the ball to just enter the field. If the field were level there would be little choice asfto results between a light or a heavy blow, the ball would have a tendency to stop without leaving the flange. To prevent such negative results the field is made concave, as by the line 7', Fig. 1, and as shown at C in'fFig. 2, and the concavity is elongated as at z',fiFig. 1. The edge 1'' of the concaved field is aidistance from the flange a little less than he]; the diameter of the ball, as at 9, Figs. 1 an 5.2, so that if the tendency of a ball were to stop at or against the flange, gravity wifi cause it to leave the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

Serial No. 445,147.

flange and it is liable to be caught in one of the depressions r, of which there may be ten, more or less, in the field e.

The hole n is the most difficult one in which to land or lodge a ball, and it is considered the home base. If the ball is given considerable velocity it will keep to the flange for several circuits around the loop, even passing over the elongated depression 2', but through the part i is the surest way to the home base, so that the player will aim to have the balls enter the depressed field from that direction. The other holes 1" have values according to the rules of the game; a home run counting from one number to another, as from one to two, two to three, and so on, while the other holes count as points toward a home.

When a ball is placed as at 8 and is given a smart blow it has a tendency to jump over the flange. To prevent that a curved way It is provided on the flange, to hold the ball to its lpath until it is fairly rolling on its way.

0 regulate the blow to be given to the balls, the club 1 is attached to a spring 2, Figs. 3 and 4, one end of the spring being fast in a collar 5, as at 7, Fig. 3. The collar 5 is placed over a screw-stud 4, Fig. 4, resting on a washer 6. The thumb-nut 3 on the screw binds the collar 5, so that by shifting the position of the club, and securing it by means of the thumb-nut, the force of the club is regulatable and can be varied at the will of the player.

On two corners of the board are game counters m m, comprising revolvable ointers and indexes. The balls when id e are held in recesses in the board, as indicated at u, Fig. 2.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is-

1. The combination in a. game board comprising a base, a raised flange upon the base in the form of a figure 9, the end of the loop of the 9separabed from the rim of the 9, the enclosure within the loop of the 9 having an elongated depression the depression elongated and deepened in the direction of the limb of the 9, thc depression beginning at a distance along the flange a little distance less than half the diameter of the bulls used. a horizontally projecting flange on the cud of the limb of the 9. recesses in the depression, at club for striking the ball, a stud in the base, a collar on the stud connected with the said club, a retractile spring acting upon the collar, and a thumb-nut on the stud.

2. The combination .in a game board of a base, a raised flange upon the base in the form of a figure 9, the end of the loop of the 9 separated from the limb of the 9, the enclosure within the loop of the 9 having an elongated unequally curved. depression the depression elongated and dee ened in the 10 playing balls, recesses in the depressed field,

an adjustable striking club and means uniting the club and the base for adjusting the 15 club, and balls to go with the board.

JOHN H. FITZPATRICK. 

